Golf putting practice device and putting aid

ABSTRACT

A golf hole simulator includes a central portion with a pair of similar arm portions extending therefrom to form an open arcuate wall which simulates the cup of the hole. The wall formed by the arm and central portions is shaped so that when a ball is putted thereagainst at the right position and at the right speed, it will be retained in the simulated &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;hole&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;, while putts made at too high a speed or striking the wall at the wrong position will not be retained. A slope indicator is provided to indicate the slope of the surface on which the device is placed for indoor or outdoor use. A gage is provided to be utilized in conjunction with the slope indicator to set the device at an angulated position with respect to the location of the ball to be putted, this position being indicative of the proper putting line to be used to compensate for the measured slope.

United States Patent [151 3,659,856 Fatur May 2, 1972 [54] GOLF PUTTING PRACTICE DEVICE AND PUTTING AID Primary ExaminerGeorge J. Marlo Attorney-Sokolski & Wohlgemuth [5 7] ABSTRACT A golf hole simulator includes a central portion with a pair of similar arm portions extending therefrom to form an open arcuate wall which simulates the cup of the hole. The wall formed by the arm and central portions is shaped so that when a ball is putted thereagainst at the right position and at the right speed, it will be retained in the simulated hole, while putts made at too high a speed or striking the wall at the wrong position will not be retained. A slope indicator is provided to indicate the slope of the surface on which the device is placed for indoor or outdoor use. A gage is provided to be utilized in conjunction with the slope indicator to set the device at an angulated position with respect to the location of the ball to be putted, this position being indicative of the proper putting line to be used to compensate for the measured slope.

12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,856

James I. Farur,

INVENTOR.

Sokolski 8 Wohlgemu'rh ATTORNEYS GOLF PUTTING PRACTICE DEVICE AND PUTTING AID This invention relates to a golf putting practice device and more particularly to such a device which simulates the conditions encountered in an actual putting situation and which includes means for measuring the slope of the surface on which the device is located and indicating the proper putting line needed to compensate for such slope.

Numerous putting practice devices have been introduced to help golfers develop their putting skills. In order to properly simulate the actual conditions encountered on a putting green, such devices should not only provide an indication as to whether or not the putting line is correct, but also should indicate to the user when the speed of his putt is too great. A further factor which must be considered and which takes particular skill and experience to handle, is the slope of the green.

Certain golf putting practice devices involving golf cup simulators have been developed in the prior art which indicate to the golfer when the ball is hit too hard or off the proper putting line. Such prior art devices, however, do not provide any special training aids incorporated therein for handling sloped conditions. Further, many of the prior art devices are somewhat more complicated and costly in their construction than to be desired, and involve moving parts which are subject to breakage.

The device of the invention provides simple yet highly effective means for practice putting in which training not only to achieve the proper putting line and the proper speed of putting is afforded, but also as to handling slopes in the putting green. Further, the device of this invention is of a simple and economical fabrication which is not subject to breakage even with rough handling. The device of this invention also is relatively lightweight and compact so that it can easily be carried in ones pocket or golf bag for use away from home, on putting greens, etc.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide an improved golf putting practice device and putting aid which affords training in the hitting of the ball at the proper speed and on the proper line for both level and sloped conditions with or without a putting hole.

It is another object of this invention to facilitate the training of golfers in putting, in both the level and sloped conditions.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a highly effective practice putting device of simple, economical and highly rugged construction.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the device of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the embodiment of FIG. 1 on a slope.

Briefly described, the device of the invention comprises a main body member which includes a central portion and a pair of arm portions which extend from the central portion. The arm and central portions form an arcuate wall which has an arc radius substantially equal to that of a typical golf hole. The sides of the wall are shaped such that a ball striking the wall at the proper speed and at the proper position therealong will end up proximate thereto, while a ball striking at an improper position and at improper speed will either pass over the wall or be deflected away therefrom. The device further includes a slope indicator for indicating the slope of the medium on which the device is supported. An indexer is further provided which enables the adjustment of the angular position of the device relative to the golfer so as to simulate the measured slope condition.

Referring now to the figures, one embodiment of the device of the invention is illustrated. The device of the invention includes a main body 11 which may be of unitary construction and fabricated out of a material such as cast aluminum, this main body having a central portion 12 with a pair of arm portions 13 and 14 which extend therefrom. An arcuate wall 15,

which extends between the central and arm portions, provides a surface towards which the golf ball is directed. Arms 13 and 14 have top edge portions 13a and 14a which have a flattened slope configuration so that when the ball strikes these edges, it will tend to ride along these flat portions and over the device, simulating the passing of the ball over the edge of the hole that would occur in actual putting conditions. Arm portions 13 and 14 also have sloped inner edge portions 13b and 14b which tend to cause the ball to follow a half rimming path over the indented path 12b of the central portion 12 of the device, thus simulating the half rimming which would occur under actual putting conditions.

Mounted behind indented portion 12b is a transparent casing 18 which has a ball member 19 freely contained therein. The surface on which ball member 19 rides in container 18 is aligned with the bottom surface of the device so that the ball member indicates a level condition for the support medium when the ball is aligned (as indicated in FIG. 1) with the central one of indicator markings 21.

Pivotally mounted on main body member 11 by means of rivet 26 is slope indexer 25 which has a plurality of larger and smaller indicator holes 270 and 27b respectively formed therein which, as to be noted in connection with FIG. 3, correspond to respective longer and shorter ones of indicator markings 21. Central portion 12 further has a pointer member 12a which is utilized as to be explained further on in the specification, to set the device for a measured slope condition. The base portion of main body member 11 has an undercut section 30 which accommodates indexer 25 with the portions of the base under arm portions 13 and 14 providing a flat support for the device, with the indexer not interfering with such support. Main body member 11 further has a pair of staking holes 32 formed therein to permit the staking of the device to the ground with tees or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the utilization of the device of the invention, in putting on a level surface is illustrated. It is to be noted that the device of the invention can be utilized wither indoors on a carpet, in ones back yard, on a putting green, or an actual golfcourse green. As can be seen, the golf ball 35 is lined up with the center of wall 15. Slope indicator 19 is aligned with the central one of indicator markings 21, thus indicating a level condition, therefore no slope adjustment need be made and pointer 12a is positioned opposite the central one of apertures 27a. The device may be staked in position by means of tees 40. As already noted, with proper putting, the ball will come to rest between arms 13 and 14. Where the ball is stroked too hard it will go over wall 15 or will come back therefrom. Also, where the ball strikes the wall away from a position near the center portion thereof, it will tend to full rim" or half rim and come out ofthe hole as would be the case in normal putting.

Referring now to FIG. 3 the use of the device in putting on a slope is indicated. As can be seen here, the ball indicator 19 has moved to a position opposite the first large indicator marking to the left of the center indicator marking. To simulate the slope condition, member 11 is rotated counter clockwise while indexer 25 is held in the original position until pointer 12a is opposite the aperture 27a corresponding to the indicator marking 21 which ball member 19 appears opposite. The ball 35, as can be seen now, is angulated away from the center of wall 15. The golfer will thus observe the offset that he must utilize to compensate for the slope to enable the ball to roll into the hole. It is to be noted that if so desired the device can be utilized on a putting green to measure the slope as a putting aid in putting into a regular golf hole.

The device of this invention thus provides a simple and economical yet highly effective device for perfecting putting skills both as to the direction and speed of putting as well as to providing the necessary compensation for putting on a slope.

While the device of the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that this is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited only by the terms of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A golf putting device comprising:

a main body member having a central portion and a pair of arm portions extending from said central portion, said central and arm portions forming an arcuate wall which simulates a golf hole, and

slope indicating means mounted on said main body member for indicating the slope of the support medium on which said member is resting.

2. The device of claim I and further including indexer means for angularly positioning said main body member relative to a predetermined putting position in accordance with the reading on said slope indicating means.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said indexer means comprises a flat plate member pivotally supported on said main body member, the central portion of said main body member having a pointer for indicating the pivotal position of said indexer means relative to said main body member.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said indexer means has indicia thereon for setting the pivotal position.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein the main body member has an undercut portion in which said indexer means is positioned.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said slope indicating means comprises a transparent container member and a ball member freely supported within said container member for movement along a predetermined path, said container member being mounted on the central portion of said main body member, and fixed indicator markings positioned in spaced relationship on said central portion opposite said container means along the path of said ball member.

7. The device of claim 6 and further including clip means for retaining the container member on said main body member.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said arm means has sloped portions at the ends thereof to provide a riding surface for a golf ball striking thereagainst.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said central portion is indented so that the wall formed thereby is of a substantially lower height than the wall formed by the arm portions so as to facilitate the passage of a golf ball over the central portion when the ball is stroked at greater than a predetermined speed.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the arcuate wall is substantially semi-circular.

11. A device for use in practice putting golf balls from a predetermined position relative thereto comprising:

a main body member including a central portion and a pair of arm portions extending from opposite sides of the central portion, the central and arm portions forming a substantially semicircular wall which simulates a golf hole, the central portion being vertically indented so the wall section formed thereby is substantially lower than the wall sections of said arm portions,

slope indicator means mounted in said central portion for indicating the slope of the support medium on which the main body member is resting, and

indexer means pivotally mounted on the main body member for use in angilarly positioning the main body member relative to said predetermined position in accordance with the indication on said slope indicator means.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said slope indicator means comprises a transparent container defining a predetermined linear path, a ball member retained in said container for motion along said path and fixed markings on said central portion positioned in spaced relationship to each other adjacent to said container along said path. 

1. A golf putting device comprising: a main body member having a central portion and a pair of arm portions extending from said central portion, said central and arm portions forming an arcuate wall which simulates a golf hole, and slope indicating means mounted on said main body member for indicating the slope of the support medium on which said member is resting.
 2. The device of claim 1 and further including indexer means for angularly positioning said main body member relative to a predetermined putting position in accordance with the reading on said slope indicating means.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said indexer means comprises a flat plate member pivotally supported on said main body member, the central portion of said main body member having a pointer for indicating the pivotal position of said indexer means relative to said main body member.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said indexer means has indicia thereon for setting the pivotal position.
 5. The device of claim 2 wherein the main body member has an undercut portion in which said indexer means is positioned.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein said slope indicating means comprises a transparent container member and a ball member freely supported within said container member for movement along a predetermined path, said container member being mounted on the central portion of said main body member, and fixed indicator markings positioned in spaced relationship on said central portion opposite said container means along the path of said ball member.
 7. The device of claim 6 and further including clip means for retaining the container member on said main body member.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein said arm means has sloped portions at the ends thereof to provide a riding surface for a golf ball striking thereagainst.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein said central portion is indented so that the wall formEd thereby is of a substantially lower height than the wall formed by the arm portions so as to facilitate the passage of a golf ball over the central portion when the ball is stroked at greater than a predetermined speed.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein the arcuate wall is substantially semi-circular.
 11. A device for use in practice putting golf balls from a predetermined position relative thereto comprising: a main body member including a central portion and a pair of arm portions extending from opposite sides of the central portion, the central and arm portions forming a substantially semicircular wall which simulates a golf hole, the central portion being vertically indented so the wall section formed thereby is substantially lower than the wall sections of said arm portions, slope indicator means mounted in said central portion for indicating the slope of the support medium on which the main body member is resting, and indexer means pivotally mounted on the main body member for use in angularly positioning the main body member relative to said predetermined position in accordance with the indication on said slope indicator means.
 12. The device of claim 11 wherein said slope indicator means comprises a transparent container defining a predetermined linear path, a ball member retained in said container for motion along said path and fixed markings on said central portion positioned in spaced relationship to each other adjacent to said container along said path. 